Follower mechanism



1945. J. c. GARAND FOLLOWER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1941 Snow boa John [1. Burundi.

8% 23 508% l ww,

Patented Jan. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLLOWER MECHANISM Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 423,738

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 3 Claims The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for govermnental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a follower mechanism more particularly adapted for use in magazine rifles or similar weapons of the type adapted to follower mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8 to 12 of my prior U. S. Patent No. 1,859,558 and in my co-pending application, Serial No. 262,171 filed March 16, 1939.

In follower mechanisms specifically designed to feed the cartridges of a stack of double row staggered cartridges confined in stacked relation throughout movement in the magazine by laterally exerted pressure of a cartridge clip, it is not required that the follower mechanism engage the lowermost cartridge of each row of the stack since the stack when so confined is a unit and may be fed through the magazine by application of pressure to the lowermost cartridge of the lowermost row of the staggered rows of cartridges; however, it is desirable to support the lowermost cartridges of both rows of cartridges before the exhaustion of the clip and magazine of all the cartridges aside from these latter in order to prevent disarrangement thereof which may consequently result in jamming of the gun.

In the prior art where a follower step has been mounted upon the follower by a longitudinal pivot for movement from a neutral central or random position as in Figs. 13 to 16 of m prior patent above identified, to a relative right or left hand position for engaging the lowermost cartridge of each row of the staggered double row cartridge stack in the rifle magazine no difficulty is encountered with respect to the follower step engaging the lowermost cartridges of both rows as the follower step may accommodate itself to different relative positions of the lowermost cartridges of the twin row stack due to variations arising from permissible tolerances in the cartridges. However, where a follower slide is mounted upon a follower for transverse sliding movement thereon in a manner to cooperate with the follower in supporting the bottom of the twin row cartridge stack with the lowermost cartridge of one row supported directly upon the follower and the next lowermost cartridge of the stack or lowermost cartridge of the other row supported directly upon the follower slide irrespective of whether the lowermost cartridge of the stack is disposed in the right or left hand row it is essential that the follower and follower slide be so arranged as to be effective to engage respectively the lowermost cartridges of both rows under conditions wherein the cumulative difference in dimensions of the cartridges of the stack within permissible tolerances of the individual cartridges are a material factor.

The employment of a follower step pivoted longitudinally of the follower in a manner to be automatically shiftable from a neutral or random position by the lowermost cartridge of the stag gered cartridge stack into a position wherein it will engage the lowermost cartridges of both rows of the stack offers advantages where the cartridge clip is spread when inserted in the rifle magazine to relieve the exertion of lateral pressure upon the cartridge stack which renders it necessary to support both row for prop-er feeding of .the cartridges from the instant the clip is spread. However, I have found that greater ad vantages, especially from the standpoint of man ufacture, are offered by a follower and follower slide of the type shown in Figs. -8 to 12 of my above mentioned patent when used with a rifle having a magazine that does not spread the clip and hence does not require that both rows of cartridges be supported from a time concurrent with the initial loading of the clipped cartridge stack in the magazine.

Hitherto a disadvantage of the type follower mechanism disclosed in Figs. 8 to 12 of my patent referred to has been in so organizing it as to ensure that both the follower and follower slide would at the proper time engage the lowermost cartridges respectively of both rows of the stack regardless of any difference in relative positioning of the lowermost cartridges inherent in a stack of cartridges fabricated by methods permitting manufacturing tolerances and, therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to arrange a follower mechanism of this type in a manner whereby it will provide positive support to both rows of cartridges during such time in the cartridge feeding cycle that support of both rows of the stack is required irrespective of any difference in relative positioning of the lowermost cartridges arising from any combination of permissible tolerances in the cartridges of the stack and/or follower mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a follower and transversely movable follower slide that are particularly adapted to engage the lowermost cartridge of a right or left row respecwhich:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the follower and follower slide of this invention showing their relation to a cartridge to be supported thereby;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a fully loaded cartridge clip disposed with the cartridge stack in operatively supported relation to the follower and follower slide of this invention. The lowermost cartridge is in the right row of the cartridge stack as viewed from the rear (left of Fig. 2) and the follower slide in combination 'with the cartridge clip supports the entire stack of cartridges;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows showing how the follower slide supports the cartridge stack;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the relative change in position that takes place between the lowermost cartridge of the cartridge stack and follower proper after removal of the uppermost cartridge from the clip;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a. sectional view taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views similar to Fig. 5 showing the follower and follower slide in supporting relation to the last two and single cartridges, respectively, remaining of the cartridge stack in a cartridge clip;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line 9--9 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows with the cartridge clip omitted.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view upon the line 0-40 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 3 there is shown a cartridge clip ID of the general construction shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,235,833 adapted to receive a two row stack of interengaging staggered cartridges individually identified by numerals I to 8 for convenience in subsequent reference thereto.

As those skilled in the art understand, the cartridge stack comprised of cartridges i to 8 may be loaded in the clip with lowermost cartridge 8 disposed in the left row as shown in Fig. 3 or in the right row, depending upon the convenience of the one loading the clip, and the loaded clip may be inserted in the magazine of the rifle with cartridge l or 8 lowermost, but identification of the cartridge occupying the lowermost position in clip ill will always be in the following description as cartridge 8 and succeeding staggered cartridges thereabove as 1 to I, respectively. It is, of course, obvious that if lowermost cartridge 8 is in the right row of the cartridge stack as viewed in Fig. 3 that uppermost cartridge I will then be in the left row of the cartridge stack as viewed in Fig. 3. Also as understood by those skilled in the art the fully loaded clip constitutes a self-contained unit capable of being manipulated in any ordinary manner without liability of disassembly by reason of the fact that the cartridges I to 8 are confined in the clip ill by the upper and lower cartridge retaining portions H and resilient sides l2 thereof which coact to exert lateral pressure upon the sides of the cartridge stack thereby retaining the cartridges in the two-row interengaging staggered relation of Fig. 3.

The follower mechanism of this invention indicated in its entirety by the numeral l3 comprises a follower l4 and follower slide I5. The underside of the follower l4 adjacent its forward end portion is suitably machined or otherwise formed to provide a T-slot it which slidably receives a complemental portion of a follower arm biased under spring loading to act upon the follower in such manner as to normally urge the latter toward its uppermost position in the rifie magazine as more specifically disclosed in my prior U. S. Patent No. 1,859,558.

With more particular reference to Fig. 1 it will be observed that the follower I4 is generally cruciform in plan comprising an enlarged symmetrical planar rear or tail portion I1 formed with transversely opposed cartridge supporting elements or rests I8 of such configuration as to readily pass through suitable notches [9 (Fig. 2) in the cartridge retaining portions ll of a cartridge clip [0 for supportably engaging the base or rear portion of lowermost cartridge 8 between the sides l2 of the cartridge clip It] irrespective of whether the lowermost cartridge 8 is in the relative right or left row of the cartridge stack. Forwardly of the cartridge supporting elements or rests i8 the enlarged tail portion ll of the follower is formed with a rectangular notch 20 arranged with two of its opposed sides transversely of the follower for a purpose hereinafter made apparent. The exterior width of that portion of the follower l4 defining the notch 20 is of such dimension as to permit ready passage of that portion of the follower through the space it defined between the cartridge retaining portions H of the cartridge clip [0.

The forward end portion of the follower i4 is shaped to provide a forward cartridge support and ramp 2| arranged transversely of the follower in forwardly and upwardly extending relation relative to the upper surface thereof. As clearly disclosed in Fig. 4 the support and ramp 2| is adapted to engage the reduction shoulder 42 of lowermost cartridge 8 irrespective of the fact that cartridge 8 may be in the relative right or left row of the cartridge stack and preferably the slope of the ramp is sufliciently greater than the slope of the reduction shoulders on the cartridges to provide substantially point contact supporting engagement between the ramp and lowermost cartridge 8 whereby friction will be reduced when the cartridge 8 is moved forwardly over the ramp during the operation of chambering the same in the barrel and the cartridge will be gradually raised to a centered position relative to the chamber as more clearly described hereinafter.

Immediately rearward of the ramp 2| the follower is provided with transversely outward extending symmetrically arranged arms 22 preferably constituting an integral part of the follower and so related to the cartridge clip ID with which the follower is designed to cooperate as to clear the forward edges of the sides 12 of the clip. The follower I4 is transversely grooved through the arms 22 adjacent the forward portion of the latter as indicated at 23 for a purpose t presently appear and the arms 22 rearwardly of the groove 23 are each provided with identical relatively reversed upwardly projecting follower guides 24 adapted to be received by complemental guide grooves in the sides of the rifle magazine for the purpose of guiding and preventing undesirable canting of the follower in vertical movement in the magazine all in a manner similar to that disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,859,558 previously referred to. The inner surfaces 25 of the follower guides 24 are conformed to general arcuate shape of such radius as to permit the free passage of the base portion of lowermost cartridge 8 between the surface 25 it is disposed adjacent to and the adjacent surface of the follower slide I5, it being understood that the cartridges are of the type which are slightly tapered from reduction shoulder t base thereby having base portions of diameters greater than the diameters of the reduction shoulder portions thereof.

The follower slide I is also generally cruciform in plan comprising a guide and supporting rib 26 having formed integral therewith or otherwise suitably attached thereto transversely outward extending symmetrically disposed arms 2'! located adjacent the forward end portion of the rib and joined thereto by arcuate portions 28 of greater radius of curvature than the maximum radius of curvature of the cartridges. The arms 21 are adapted for disposition within the groove 23 in follower I4 to guide the follower slide I 5 in relative transverse sliding movement upon the follower.

Opposed upper side surfaces 29 of the follower slide rib 26 are arranged in substantially vertical parallelism and are joined by an arcuate top surface 30 as shown more clearly in Fig. 9. The lower edges of opposed side surfaces 29 are joined with a base portion 3| of increased width of the follower slide by arcuate surfaces 32 of greater radius of curvature than the maximum radius of curvature of the cartridges. By this construction the upper portion of the follower slide rib is formed of minimum width which is desirable in obtaining optimum supporting function as here inafter made clear, but at the same time provides a structure not subject to warping by heat treatment by reason of the fact that the increased width of base portion 3| is great enough to provide sufficient metal to withstand the warping stresses set up in the heat treating operation.

As the relative height of the follower slide rib 26 projecting above the upper surface of follower I4 may most conveniently be seen when disposed in supporting relation to a fully loaded cartridge clip, reference is now made to Figs. 2 and 3 which show that the follower slide rib 26 is of such height as to engage penultimate cartridge 7 along a line located intermediate its lowest point and its contact withcartridge 8 before the latter cartridge is seated upon its supports I8, 2I on the follower I4. Since the surface 36 of follower slide rib 26 engages cartridge I only between its point of eontact with cartridge 8 and its lowermost point as viewed in Fig. 9, it will be seen that the application of an upwardly directed pressure on the follower will force or cam the follower slide I5 into lateral abutment with cartridge 8 wherein the adjacent vertical surface 29 of the rib 26 will contact the side of cartridge 8 in a vertical plane tangent to the latter cartridge. The same relationship between the follower slide and cartridge 8 obtains when cartridge 8 is in the right row of the cartridge stack and in either case the follower slide in no way supports lowermost cartridge 8 but merely laterally abuts against the same under the camming force of cartridge 7 thus assuring that the follower slide surface 30 will engage cartridge 1 as nearly adjacent the springing of the crotch 33 between cartridges 1 and 8 as possible which offers the greatest advantage in supporting cartridge I and the cartridge stack thereabove comprised of cartridges 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and I for the reason that the resultant line of application of force through the follower slide upon this cartridge will bear substantially the same relation thereto as the main resultant lines of application of force bear with respect to cartridges 1-6, 6-5, etc. In the relationship of the fully loaded cartridge clip, follower I4 and follower slide I5 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cartridge stack is supported as a unit by the follower slide and clip I0 for as above explained the follower slide rib 26 directly supports cartridge I and therethrough cartridges 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and I while cartridge 8 is supported in the unit between cartridges 1 and 6 by the cartridge retaining portion I I of the cartridge clip I0. Through the arrangement of extending the follower slide rib 26 above the surface of follower I4 as herein disclosed it will be observed in Figs. 4 and 5 that with the cartridge clip held stationary in the rifle magazine, as it normally is, the removal of cartridge I from the clip II] will permit upward movement of cartridges 1 to 2 in the clip to a position of rest with cartridge 2 engaging the retaining portion II of the clip Ill under the upward pres sure exerted on these cartridges through the follower slide rib 26. Upon initial upward movement of the follower I4 and follower slide I5 after the cartridge I has been removed from clip IO slight relative vertical movement between the follower I4 and lowermost cartridge 8 takes place since the lateral pressure exerted on cartridge 8 by the tangential contact with the adjacent vertical surface 23 of follower slide rib 26 exerts no vertical component lifting force. As soon as relative vertical movement between. cartridge 8 and follower I4 is completed the cartridge rests I6, ZI of the follower will engage the base portion and reduction shoulder of lowermost cartridge 6 and raise the same. Normally there will be such rearrangement of cartridges I to 2 after the removal of cartridge I as to permit cartridge 8 to remain substantially in contact with cartridge 6 as shown in Fig. 5 when the cartridge stack is at rest,

but this is because it has been found that car-,

tridges I to 2 will rearrange when stacked as shown and subjected to a vertical raising pressure due to variations in the tolerances therein and not because cartridge 8 supportably engages cartridge 6 through the pressure exerted on cartridge 8 by follower I4 which latter condition is prevented by the height of rib 26 and its supporting relation to cartridges 1 and 6.

A depending forwardly opening hooked element 35 is formed integral with or otherwise suitably secured to th rear portion of the follower slide base 3|, and serves to detachably secure the follower slide to the follower for transverse sliding movement. The width of the rear portion 34 of the base portion 3| of the fol lower slide is somewhat reduced with respect to the forward portion. Th width of this rear base portion 34 is preferably the same dimension as the width of hooked element 35 to provide greater convenience for machining operations on the hooked element 35. The follower slide I5 is attached to the follower I4 by engaging the hooked element 35 in the notch 26 as shown in Fig. 1 and forcing arms 21 into groove 23 which through the flexibility of the intermediate section of follower I4 permits the follower slide to be snapped into position on the follower for free transverse sliding movement thereof. The width of the notch 20 in the follower base defines the extent of the transverse sliding movement of the follower slide I5 through engagement of the sides of the notch 20 with the hooked element 35. The extent of transvers movement of the follower slide I5, and henc the width of the slot 20, is determined in relation to the cartridge diameter as illustrated most conveniently by Figs, 2 and 3. The extent of movement should be such that when the follower slide I5 is in either its right or left extreme transverse position, the distance between the side 29 of the follower slide rib 26 and the opposing inside surface of the cartridge clip wall I2 is substantially the same as, but not less than, the diameter of the cartridge. By thus defining the extent of transverse movement of th follower slide I5, it is insured that side surface 29 of the follower slide rib 26 will always tangentially engage the lowermost cartridge 8 under the camming action of cartridge I, so as to transmit no component of forc above the horizontal.

The forward end portion of the follower slide is suitably beveled as indicated at 36 to provide for proper clearance of the base of lowermost cartridge 8 and the slide as th latter cartridge is chambered. Similarly the rear end of the follower slide is beveled at 31 to act as a ramp whereby the bolt may depress the follower slide to a position below its path of movement when the magazin is empty in which condition of the rifle th normal position of the follower slide will be in the path of movement of the bolt 'when the bolt is located in the uncovered position of the magazine.

In order that friction between movement of the follower and follower slide may be reduced to an inconsequential factor the under surface of the follower slide I5 may be relieved as indicated at 38.

In operation a cartridge clip I fully loaded with cartridges I to 8, which for the purpose of illustration will be assumed to be arranged as shown in Fig. 3, that is, with lowermost oartridge 8 in the left row as viewed in this figure, is inserted in the magazine of a rifi or similar weapon to be loaded. The follower I4 and its follower slide I will be in their normal uppermost position in the unloaded magazine, consequently, initial entry of the load d clip in the magazine will effect contact between the follower slide and lowermost cartridges. For the purpose of illustration, it will be assumed that the follower slid is in its leftmost position as viewed in Fig. 3 at the beginning or the step of inserting the loaded clip in the magazine. With the follower slide I5 in its leftmost position as viewed in Fig. 3, the arcuate surface 30 of the follower slide will initially be engaged by the arcuate surface of lowermost cartridge 8 along a line of the latter between its lowest point and its line of contact with cartridg 1. After initial contact of cartridge 8 and follower slide I5, continued depression of the loaded clip will cause cartridge 8 to cam the follower slide I5 to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 to a position wherein the arcuate surface 3|] of the follower slide engages cartridge I along a line substantially in the spring of crotch 33 with the surface 29 adjacent cartridge 8 tangentially engaging the latter cartridge in a vertical plane. Because of the fact that the height of follower slide ri-b 26 above the upper surface of follower I4 is greater than the vertical distance from the low ermost point of cartridge 8 to the spring of crotch 33, or more accurately stated, to a line corresponding with the line of engagement of the follower slide rib and cartridge 1, it is then obvious from Figs. 2 and 3 that cartridge 8 cannot engage follower I4 in the loaded clip due to cartridge retaining clip portions II which prevent relative vertical movement of the cartridges in a fully loaded clip, and that as a consequence the follower slide will be depressed, in turn depressing the follower I4 against the action of its follower spring (not shown) as the clip is depressed in the rifle magazine to its normal loaded position in the magazine in which position it is held against the action of the follower spring by a suitable detent forming no part of the present invention but which operates in a well known manner. As long as the clip I0 remains fully loaded, that is, a unit, the relative positions between cartridges I and 8, follower I4, and follower slid I5, will remain the same as above explained and more particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It will be understood that during the insertion of the loaded clip I0 in the rifle magazin that the loading pressure is applied by the operator loading the magazine through the top of the clip and that such pressure is transmited to the follower slide I5 and follower I4 through the cartridge retaining clip portion II engaging cartridge I, and serially through cartridges I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and I in the order named, while cartridge 8 merely serves as an abutment to hold the follower slide I5 in th roper position of contact with cartridge 'I to receive the thrust therefrom.

Upon the removal of cartridge I from clip I II the follower I4 and follower slide I5 under the upward urge of the follower spring associated therewith will raise cartridges I, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 to a position of rest with cartridge 2 engaging the adjacent cartridge retaining portion II of clip I0 through the thrust exerted on cartridge I by follower slide I5 which is transmitted to cartridges 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2 in the order recited. During the upward movement of the follower slide I5 and follower I4 after the removal of cartridge I, cartridge 8 will not initially be raised since the vertical tangential engagement of the follower slide surface 29 with cartridge 8 does not impart a vertical thrust to this cartridge to raise it against gravity and the frictional resistance it encounters with the side I2 of cartridge clip I0; however, after the follower I4 has been raised to a point where the cartridge rests l8 and 2| engage the base portion and reduction shoulder 42 of cartridge 8, respectively, the latter will then be raised by the follower proper to the position indicated in Fig. 4 wherein it may contact cartridge 6 due to readjustment of the cartridges but will not offer it any substantial vertical support. The reason, of course, for the cartridges 8 to 2 remaining substantially in the contacting relation shown in Fig. 5 is because the cartridges I to 2 will slightly rearrange themselves under the pressure exerted thereon by the follower slide I5 during the time they are raised from the position of Fig. 3 to Fig. 5 due to their slight differences in diameters permissible by manufacturing tolerances and the flexibility of clip I0. With the ejection of succeeding cartridges 2, 3, etc. from the clip III the follower slide I5 and follower I4 will function to raise cartridges I, 6, 5, etc. as a stack and cartridge 8 individually, respectively, as above explained with the stack being arrested alternately by opposed cartridge retaining portions ll of clip [0.

When all of the cartridges have been removed from clip ID except cartridges 1 and 8 and the latter two occupy the position shown in Figs. '7 and 9, it will be seen that cartridge 1 will be confined between cartridge retaining portion ll of clip Ill and surface 30 of follower slide [5 by engagement with these two elements on opposed lines arcuately separated less than 180 in an anti-clockwise direction from portion ll of clip as viewed in Fig. 7 with the result that this cartridge is positively confined since the follower slide cannot move to the left against cartridge 8. This feature provides a structure which is the equivalent of confining cartridge 1 in a container of greater than semi-circular form thereby positively eliminating any possibility of lateral displacement of cartridge 1 or upward displacement of cartridge 8 and consequent jamming of the gun, and may be directly attributed to the height and form of the follower slide which provides contact with cartridges I. and 8 as above explained. Likewise when cartridge 8 is the sole remaining cartridge in clip in as seen in Fig. 8, it is confined between follower slide surface 29 and cartridge retaining portion ll of clip In, since the follower slide I is prevented from further transverse movement to the right by the coaction of the hooked element 35 with the side of slot 28 as previously pointed out. This confinement between follower slide surface29 and cartridge retaming portion ll of clip I0 is produced along lines arcuately separated less than 180 from cartridge retaining portion ll as viewed in Fig. 8 to positively prevent lateral displacement of the cartridge, thereby eliminating any possibility of this cartridge causing a jam.

By arranging the height of follower slide rib 26 as herein disclosed, a follower mechanism has been provided that assures positive support for cartridges 1 and 8 when these cartridges are the sole remaining cartridges in the clip, respectively, thereby eliminating one of the commonest sources of jamming known as 7th and 8th round jams due to cartridges 1 and/or 8 becoming displaced in clip Ill. The support furnished cartridges l and 8 will be positive irrespective of any combination of tolerances present in the cartridges as the greater height of rib 2B of follower slide [5 and flexibility of clip ID will take up any differences due to tolerances.

In chambering the last cartridge 8 in the clip the bolt will force the same forwardly over ramp 2| gradually raising the cartridge through its reduction shoulder 42 to centered position with respect to the barrel chamber by reason of the slope of the ramp and friction will be a minimum due to the substantially point contact with cartridge 8.

It will be understood that if lowermost cartridge 8 is in the right row of the cartridge stack as viewed in Fig. 3, the steps in the operation of the follower mechanism will be the same as those above given with relative reversed portions of the follower and follower slide functioning instead of those portions above specificially referred to.

Having now described a present preferred embodiment of the present invention, I claim:

1. In a gun, in combination, a clip having a double column of cartridges confined in interengaging staggered relation, and a follower mechanism having a slide movable transversely of the cartridge columns, a medial rib on the slide constructed and arranged to engage by its apex the penultimate cartridge in the clip intermediate its lowest point and its line of engagement with the lowermost cartridge, vertical side portions on the rib for engagement with the lowermost cartridge to impart a force thereto only perpendicular to the line of centers of its column, all of said follower slide lying below said vertical side portions on the rib being spaced fromthe lower most cartridge at all times and means on the follower to impart a lifting force to the lowermost cartridge independently of the follower slide whereby the thrust is imparted to the penultimate cartridge through the follower slide and the lowermost cartridge is lifted follower independently without transmitting any substantial thrust to the penultimate cartridge.

2. In a follower mechanism for use in a magazine weapon designed to receive a clip of definite size having a double row of cartridges confined in interengaging staggered relation, a follower, a follower slide mounted on the follower for movement transversely of the cartridge rows, the limits of such movement being respectively defined substantially by lines spaced outward from the inner tangents to the cartridge column by the thickness of the slide, said follower slide comprising an upstanding centrally disposed cartridge supporting rib constructed and arranged to engage the penultimate cartridge in the magazine intermediate its lowest point and its line of engagement with the lowermost cartridge in the magazine, and constructed and arranged to impart a lateral thrust only to the lowermost cartridge, and means on the follower proper to impart a lifting force to the lowermost cartridge independently of the slide.

3. In a follower mechanism for use in a ma azine weapon designed to receive a clip of definite size having a double row of cartridges confined in interengaging staggered relation, a follower, a follower slide mounted on the follower for movement transversely of the cartridge rows, the limits of such movement being respectively defined substantially by lines spaced outward from the inner tangents to the cartridge columns by the thickness of the slide, said follower slide comprising an upstanding centrally disposed cartridge supporting rib constructed and arranged to engage the penultimate cartridge in the magazineintermediate its lowest point and its line of engagement with the lowermost cartridge in the magazine, and constructed and arranged to impart a lateral thrust only to the lowermost cartridge, said slide being of such a height above said follower proper that the latter imparts a lifting force to the lowermost cartridge independently of the slide.

JOHN C. GARAND.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,566,681 January 2, 19b

JOHN c. GARAND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 2h, claim after the word "lifted" insert -by the-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of March, A. D. 19%..

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,566,681! January 2, 1915.

JOHN C. GAR-AND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, sec- 0nd column, line Claim after the word "lifted" insert --by the---; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of March, A. D. 1915..

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

